Halter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. BRUCE.

HALTER.

No. 459,541. Patented'Sept. 15, 1891.

M R05 eri lu'ce 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

R. BRUCE.

HALTER.

N5. 459,541. Patentedvsept.' 15. 1891.

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t'JNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ROBERT BRUCE, OF PENDLETON, OREGON.

HALTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,541, dated September 15, 1891.

I Application filed September 20, 1890. Serial No. 365,656. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom, t 77u03/ concern: y

Be it known that I, ROBERT BRUCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pendleton, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Halter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harness, and more especially to that class thereof known as halters, and the object of the sameis to provide a halter adapted to choke or partially choke the horse when he attempts to run away.

To this end the invention consists of the specific details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,in which,-

Figure l is a side elevation of a horse, showing my improved halter and a headstall in position upon him. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation taken partly from the under side, showing the headstall in full and the halter in dotted lines in its normal position. Eig. 3 is a similar View showing the halter when drawn upon to choke or partially choke the horse.

Referring` to the said drawings, the letter H designates an ordinary headstall having the usual rings R, carrying a bit B, and also having secured to its crown-piece above the' horses head a single ring or eye I. These parts may be of the ordinary or of any preferred construction, having no relation to the present invention, except as hereinafter stated.

Coming now to the present invention, the letter C designates a pair of cords or round straps, each of which is connected at one end to a traveling ring T, passed thence around and over the back of a horses neck through the eye I down the other side of his neck alongside the throat latch of the halter through the traveling ring T under the horses throat, thence diverging beneath his chin, passing through the bit-rin gs R, led alongside his neck to a point about above his front shoulders, and thereprovided with snap -hooks S,.detachably engaging a ring r in the front end of an operating-strap O, which extends thence rearwardly to within reach of the driver.

In use the cords C are passed around the horses head in the manner above described, the traveling ring T standing beneath his chin and the slip-noose formed by the halter loosely embracing his neck. lf the horse becomes unruly, the strap O is forcibly drawn upon by the driver. This motion draws back upon the bit-rings and bit with a force which is supplemental to that imparted by the reins, and when the tension on the cords C becomes great'enough to overcome their friction in the bit-rings R and in the eye I they slip through the same and draw the traveling ring T upwardly upon their bodies. This motion reduces the size ot' the slip-noose surrounding the horses neck and exerts a choking action upon him, which may be increased to an extent even to choking` him to death, if his continued running involves great and imminent peril to the occupants of the vehicle.

IVhat is claimed as new isy l. As an improvementin halters, arcord C, passing around a horses neck and through an eye I in the crown-piece of the headstall, and a ringT at the end of the cord traveling loosely upon its body, said cord passing loosely through the bit-ring R and extending rearwardly, and an ope ratin g-strap connected to said cord and leading to within reach of the d river, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the headstall l-I, having an eye I in its crown-piece and having rings R connected to the bit, of a ring T between the bit and eye, two cords C, connected at one end to said ring, passing thence through the eye, thence through the ring, and then diverging and leading through the bit-rings to the back of the horses neck, and an operating-strap O, detachably connected to the rear ends of said cords and extending` to within reach of the driver, the whole constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore sett'orth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto affixed my signature in "presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT BRUCE. Witnesses:

J. H. RoBBINs, Lor LIvERMoRE. 

